Menu

Northern lights in Oregon

Yes, during strong geomagnetic storms. NOAA's storm scale names Oregon as a state reached by strong storms, and in May 2024 people photographed the aurora from Portland to Mount Hood and the coast. Northern Oregon has slightly better odds than the south.

Tonight's northern lights forecast

Loading NOAA's Kp forecast…

How strong a storm each city in Oregon needs

The farther a place is from the magnetic pole, the stronger the geomagnetic storm needed to push the aurora into view. These levels come from each city's geomagnetic latitude and NOAA's storm scale, which says how far south aurora is usually seen at each level. They are for aurora low on the northern horizon from a dark spot; overhead displays need more. Across Oregon the level ranges from Kp 6.8 (G3) in Portland to Kp 7.5 (G4) in Medford.

CityGeomagnetic latitudeAurora usually needsTonight
Portland50.9°Kp 6.8 (G3)
Salem50.3°Kp 6.9 (G3)
Corvallis49.9°Kp 7 (G3)
Eugene49.4°Kp 7.1 (G3)
Bend49.6°Kp 7.1 (G3)
Roseburg48.5°Kp 7.3 (G3)
Klamath Falls47.8°Kp 7.4 (G4)
Medford47.7°Kp 7.5 (G4)

How these levels are worked out: our methods.

How often you can see the aurora in Oregon

NOAA’s scale says strong storms bring the aurora as far south as Oregon, at about 50 degrees geomagnetic latitude. Strong storms happen on roughly 130 days per 11-year solar cycle. Northern Oregon has slightly better odds than the south, where a severe storm is usually needed. The table above shows each city’s level against tonight’s forecast.

Where to watch

  • Prineville Reservoir State Park: in central Oregon east of the Cascades, certified as an International Dark Sky Park in 2021.
  • Cottonwood Canyon State Park: on the John Day River in north-central Oregon, certified as an International Dark Sky Park in 2024.
  • Oregon Outback International Dark Sky Sanctuary: a large area of Lake County in southern Oregon, certified in 2024.
  • High ground near Portland: in May 2024, KOIN shared photos taken from Council Crest in Portland and Timberline Lodge on Mount Hood.

Notable sightings

During the severe storm of May 10–11, 2024, KOIN reported that people saw the aurora at locations throughout Oregon and Washington. Photos came from Portland’s Council Crest, Hillsboro, Lake Oswego, Estacada, Forest Grove, Independence, Seaside, Timberline Lodge and Mount Hood Meadows, Low Pass and Diamond.

Tips for Oregon

  • Mind the mountains. Ridges and forest can block a low northern horizon, so pick an open plateau, reservoir or high viewpoint.
  • Get away from city glow. Portland, Salem and Eugene brighten the Willamette Valley.
  • Use your camera. At Oregon’s latitude the aurora is often a low glow that shows better in a photo than to the eye.
  • Look near midnight. NOAA says activity usually peaks within an hour or two of midnight.

Local resources

Browse certified dark-sky places, check the moon phase and read how to see the northern lights. Neighbors: Washington and California.

Dark-sky places near Portland

Certified dark-sky places are among the best spots to watch for aurora: little light pollution and, often, open views to the north.

Questions and answers

Can you see the northern lights from Portland?

During strong storms, yes. In May 2024 KOIN shared photos from Council Crest in Portland, Lake Oswego and Hillsboro. Getting above or away from the city lights helps a lot.

Is the Oregon coast good for the aurora?

It can be. In May 2024 KOIN shared a photo of the aurora from Seaside. Pick a spot with a clear view north and away from town lights.

What is the best time of year in Oregon?

NOAA says bigger storms tend to come near the March and September equinoxes. In Interior Alaska, the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute finds the odds of aurora about twice as high at the equinoxes as at the solstices.

Other states

Sources